4K Restoration: Close Encounters of The Third Kind – Review

Re-released for one special night only at Cineworld on Monday 18th September, Spielberg’s iconic sci-fi classic returns to the big screen to celebrate its 40th year anniversary. Like with all classic old films that get the re-release big screen treatment as a way of celebrating just how timeless they are, I had an absolute blast seeing Close Encounters at the cinema. Not only is it one of my favourite films ever made from Spielberg but also one of my most beloved movies within the science fiction genre. Released in the same year as George Lucas’s Star Wars, these two films couldn’t be any more different from each other and yet, they both breathe new life into the genre and change the way we see films today.

4K Restoration: Close Encounters of The Third Kind

After family man Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) experiences his first UFO sightings while driving around in his work truck late one night in Muncie, Indiana; it’s a pivotal moment that will change the rest of his life forever. Obsessing over what he has seen, he’s convinced that something unbelievable is about to happen that will change the course of human history as we know it.

Presented in a spectacular and dazzling 4K restoration, both the picture and sound were of such a superior high standard that completely blew me away and that ain’t no exaggeration, believe me! The picture looked so crisp that the visual effects still hold up remarkably well after all these years and with the sound cranked all the way up, you could feel every single vibration at your feet on the floor whenever the alien visitors invaded our planet on screen.

I’ve always liked how the film’s storytelling narrative is separated into three chapters essentially. So in the beginning, we get presented to us our close encounter of the first kind; where Neary and several other public bystanders witness their first UFO sightings across the sky that leads to having visions of a mountain like shape being imprinted on their minds, in the middle of the film we get scientists coming into contact with physical evidence of missing planes from 1945 suddenly reappearing in the middle of the desert without any explanation and finally in the end, we get to our third kind – the world’s first physical contact between humans and extraterrestrials.

I also love how Spielberg plays around with the idea/concept of keeping the aliens a complete mystery from us throughout its first two acts, keeping their appearance hidden and letting us play the guessing game to what their main intent might be; whether or not they’re cute and friendly or just pure evil and want to wipe out the entire humanity. Remember, this is Spielberg’s first step into alien sci-fi before the likes of E.T. so audiences back then had no idea what to expect.

Unbeknown to myself before attending this screening that we would be treated to an exclusive behind the scenes making of featurette before the main feature started. It was really interesting to hear what Spielberg had to say about making this film when looking back on it after 40 years. He’s also joined by other renowned filmmakers working in this genre today such as the likes of JJ Abrams and Denis Villeneuve, and it was so informative to hear just why this particular film has been such a big influence on their film careers.

Regardless of whether you’re seeing this for the very first time or not, one thing is for sure and that is that you’re guaranteed to walk out of the cinema with a great big beaming smile on your face after realising you’ve just had one of the most profound and soaring film experiences that you could ever possibly have in a dark screening room.

A most profound and soaring film experience
5

Summary

One of the most profound and soaring film experiences that you could ever possibly have in a dark screening room.